2020 VISION | My (Chinese) New Year Fashion Pledge

My Chinese New Year outfit picks for Vaughan Mills (before I added cherry blossoms & fixed the shoes but you get the picture.) L to R: Uniqlo, H&M, Laura, Disney Outlet, Marc Cain, Tommy Hilfiger 

I consider myself a naturally positive person and try hard to keep my champagne glass half full (a girl's gotta play) but TBH, it's been a bit of a rough start to 2020. Between school strikes, seriously meh weather, my kids being sick, this blog crashing for 2 weeks right after I tried to relaunch it, and having to put our dog Fonzie down (heartbreakingly horrible), the year of January has felt E-TER-NAL.

But then Vaughan Mills asked me to be their stylist for a Chinese New Year event and I felt like 2020 was starting to turn around. I booked a collab with Charmin (started from the bottom now we're here), secured a partnership with another big exciting brand (stay tuned for that one) and have started to feel my freelance writing flow again. And so, I've decided to treat Chinese New Year as a second chance for a fresh start. I could pretend that I meant to wait for Chinese New Year to make some resolutions but I'll be honest: with everything going on at home, I just kinda missed the other new year. 

And so, with a renewed sense of hope and a steadfast commitment to a ballin' February, let's celebrate the Year of the Rat. Ermmm, okay, nobody in the fashion world wants to acknowledge that for obvious aesthetic reasons, so let's go with the rat’s close but cuter relative: the mouse. For my styling project with Vaughan Mills, I added Mickey & Minnie Mouse into the mix and, of course, added loads of red for loads of good luck (see above for the lewks). 

Happy belated NY and a most fantastic Feb to you, you beauties! Here are the fashion resolutions I intend to keep this year - while 'guilt-free finds' used to reference budget, it's come to mean a lot more to me as I try to be more mindful of what I buy. None of these pledges are particularly groundbreaking but I find writing things down helps my sticktoitiveness. Hopefully seeing them here will help you, too!

1) BUY LESS, BUY BETTER

For 2020, I'm only buying things I love. Like, actually, 3 o's-worthy looove. I intend to buy fewer things but better things - better quality, better details, better fit. I want my closet to be full of well-curated gems so I never feel like I'm compromising.

2) REPURPOSE WITH PURPOSE

Before donating something, I'm going to first see if there's a way it can be repurposed. As this viral Vogue article so rightly points out, the year of 2020 will be about giving new life to old things. I've given some of my 90s vintage sweatshirts a modern edge by cropping them with a pair of scissors (sometimes lazy = edgy, unlike that time I tried to cut my friend Krista's hair in grade 7). I've found new life in old dresses by layering sweaters over top and adding a belt. When I can't find a way to repurpose, I'll...

3) DONATE AND CONSIGN LIKE IT'S MY OWN SIDE-HUSTLE 

My city is full of amazing consignment shops and clothing donation centres. Nothing goes in the garbage. I'll take the time to consign to make more room in my closet and then donate the rest. Anything that's not in good enough shape for the above, I'll recycle (see below) :)

4) RECONSIDER RECYCLING

Stores like H&M have made sustainability a growing part of their mission statements. Their fabric recycling programs take donated clothing and gives you a coupon in return (ideally to shop their Conscious line). Certain clothing donation programs like Diabetes Canada accept unusable clothing (ie. ripped, stained, torn) and sell them to fund research. Other local programs are doing some incredible work - Markham’s textile recycling program saved 1.4 million kg of clothing from going to the landfill in less than a year - so be sure to search for textile recycling programs wherever you happen to call home. 

5) FOCUS ON FABRICS

While I don't enjoy wrinkles (on my face or my clothes), I really hate the idea that when my clothes eventually end up in a landfill, they will never biodegrade. While natural fibres make their own environmental impact, I still feel that cottons, linens, silks and wool are better choices than man-made. Do your own research (if you dare), and do what makes the most sense for you. I'm a burgertarian so I eat like a vegetarian 90% of the time and then spend 10% of my life in drive-thrus blissfully eating hamburgers. I see fashion the same way - it's impossible to be perfect but every little effort helps. 

6) RENT, ROCK IT, REPEAT

The rental business in Canada is getting more and more attractive, with stores like The Fitzroy, Dresst and Rent Frock Repeat springing up all over the place. If you don't live in Toronto, certain companies offer free shipping and subscription boxes. For occasions like weddings, job interviews, important presentations, a very extra school drop-off (sequin jumpsuits are one surefire way to liven up those early mornings), renting is so. much. fun. 

Ok, I'm out. Off to take a pair of scissors to an old hoodie. Um, wish me luck. xx

Back at It

Me with my hair not did. Typical.

Okay, so I know I've been gone for a little while. Okay, a loooong while. I'm sorry. I don't really think I ever said goodbye, did I? Here's what happened: I was the stylist for Vaughan Mills, which morphed into me taking over a mat leave as Marketing Director, which then became another marketing mat leave contract at another shopping centre. I was offered an amazing career opportunity, so I took it and loved every minute. If you follow me on Instagram (& if you don't, please do), you probably saw just how much fun I've had over these last few years. 

But here's the thing: commuting nearly 4 hours a day with a husband in a start-up and two busy kids at home left me with z-e-r-o time to blog (or shower or brush my hair - see pic above). My life was an actual highway, and I really did ride it all night long. So, sorry not sorry?  Just know that I've really missed you over these many months. 

I've been more than a little nervous to get back to blogging; I mean, is it like riding a bicycle? Will I remember how to write? Does anyone even care about fashion blogs anymore? Can I leave like Taylor Swift and come back more relevant than ever? Or will I be like Madonna who young folk only recognize as that old lady who used to sing? Did I just compare myself to Taylor Swift and Madonna? This is off to an impressive start. 

Anyway, I'm excited to get back to sharing my favourite finds with you, if only so I can shop obsessively/ therapeutically with full justification to do so. It's called taking one for the team and team - I am here for you. Kk, let's do this...

CANADA 150, EH? | These Fashionable Finds Will Make You Feel SO Canadian

via Roots

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Campfires. Gord Downie. Timmies. Pond hockey. Muskoka chairs. Loon calls. Bautista bat flips. Complaining about the weather. Saying sorry. A lot. Paleness. Patio parties. Backyard bbqs. Justin Trudeau doing push-ups.

We might all be different but there's something about being Canadian that unites us. We work hard but we play harder. We love fiercely, we're polite and we're kind - buuut we still like to cause some trouble because how else could we possibly get through 8 months of winter? We love our nature and we love our summers because we know that before too long, they're gone. We're far from perfect but we're working on it. Most of us have never seen a beaver. And most of us will find that last sentence funny. 

Unlike our American counterparts, our patriotism is a steady, quiet sort. While we love Canada, it's not the decal-your-car-in-Canadian-flags kinda love. But with Canada 150 just a few weeks away, this might be the year to get just a little bit loud. 

Rock maple-leaf hats & sweatshirts from Roots (one of our country's biggest retail success stories) or Made in Canada finds from Le Château. Try flirty dresses from stores that you didn't even know were Canadian or homegrown beauty products to help you embrace your short-lived summer glow. Pick up some new shoes from a Canadian fave (shout-out to ALDO) or treat yourself to a few things from Hudson's Bay.  Love this country as much as we do? Scroll below for some fashionable finds that will help you wear your heart on your sleeve this summer.

Happy 150th birthday Canada! We love you xx

SEE OUR CANADIAN FASHION FINDS HERE...

FLIPPING AMAZING | One Girl’s Fun Day Out at Triple Flip

My daughter is always on the move. I mean, like, never stops moving. And while we always manage to get from A to B, the trip rarely involves walking - it alternates between hopping, twirling, cartwheeling and leaping as we make our way around our city from day to day. When shopping for clothes, I’ve learned that everything from top to toe needs to be able to stretch, spin and move with my little. Oh, and it needs to be fun. Always fun. Triple Flip is one of my daughter’s newest obsessions so when the Oakville store asked us to come in and shop the new collection, both she and I did a little happy dance.

If you’re not familiar with Triple Flip, it’s time to get in-the-know. The brand began in Calgary in 2005 when the company recognized the need for a fun, aspirational brand for tween girls. Based on 400 actual girls’ bodies and feedback from tweens, Triple Flip created its own unique design aesthetic and sizing scale to promote healthy lifestyles and body confidence. With both form-fitting and relaxed styles in the line, girls can mix and match without focusing on labels.  As a mom who wants nothing more than to have a happy, confident daughter, I love this philosophy so much.

Triple Flip is way more fun than your average store - loads of bright colours and fun prints dominate the space, while silver poufs and ‘super fancy’ (her words) change rooms make shopping a joy for moms and kids alike. Seriously. My daughter normally has a 15-30 minute (max) shopping limit before she gets bored but we stayed at Triple Flip for 2 hours at which point I had to drag her out of the store in full pout mode so we could get home for dinner.

The new summer collection is full of so many pieces I wanted to bring home. I normally shop the brand for C’s dance and gymnastics gear online so was happy to discover all of the great summer dresses and swimwear they carry, too. The bold print Twirl Dress is made of moisture-wicking fabric to keep girls cool and comfortable on hot summer days, while the sweet swimwear and rash guards are designed to let kids dive right in. We tried on dresses, bodysuits, printed leggings (um, hello flamingo), and of course Triple Flip’s famous, coziest-ever Minky Dimples line and then it was finally time for the accessories.  

From irresistibly cute bags to colourful scarves to sweet jewellery, we finished off our shopping trip with our arms loaded with colour.

Thanks for the fun Triple Flip. Can’t wait to come back soon - if my daughter has anything to say about it, should be next weekend ;)

Be sure to check out Triple Flip online or head a Triple Flip store near you. Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Ooh, and don’t miss this...

CONTEST ALERT:

I’ve teamed up with Triple Flip for an exciting Instagram contest.  One lucky RLR reader will receive a Triple Flip discount code for $50 off of their online purchase.  

RULES:

1. Follow @tripleflipgirl and @realliferunway on Instagram.

2. Tag 3 friends who you think would like to be entered in the comments section of my Triple Flip IG post.

3. Winner to be selected randomly and announced on the @realliferunway Instagram post on Tuesday June 28th.

4. Contest open to Canadian and U.S residents only

GOOD LUCK!

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

Joe Mimran Leaves Joe Fresh, Joins CBC's Dragons' Den

Photo via George Pimentel

When it was announced a few days ago that Joe Mimran was leaving Joe Fresh - his namesake, his fashion baby - the Canadian fashion community reeled. It seemed like an odd decision to leave a successful company at the top of its game, right in the midst of its global takeover. So what was it? Was there someone else? Was he tired of people thinking his last name was 'Fresh'? Was he simply over the colour orange? I couldn't imagine why he'd leave Joe Fresh unless tempted by an even better opportunity. Turns out I was right. 

Joe Mimran will be joining CBC's Dragons' Den as the hit show's newest judge. The 62 year-old fashion vet is a natural choice, having built some of Canada's most successful fashion brands including Alfred Sung, Caban, Club Monaco, and most recently, Joe Fresh.  Though Joe leaves his day-to-day duties behind, he will remain the founder and brand ambassador of Joe Fresh. 

Season 10 of Dragons' Den starts shooting next month and will air Wednesday nights at 8 pm on CBC. As an avid DD junkie, I cannot wait to see Mr. Mim in action. One thing I can guarantee? There will be loafers. Oh yes, there will be loafers.